Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Invasive Species topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Witnesses urge Congress to codify Fish and Wildlife invasive‑species strike teams
Summary
Witnesses including a University of Hawaii invasive‑species manager and the Fish and Wildlife Service told the House subcommittee that codifying and funding refuge invasive‑species strike teams (HR 4219) would enable earlier detection and faster eradication of species such as yellow crazy ants and quagga mussels.
A House Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing heard bipartisan support for HR 4219, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, with witnesses arguing that legislated strike teams would improve rapid response, prevention and partner coordination.
The subcommittee heard that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) currently operates strike teams that provide rapid eradication and technical assistance on refuges and nearby partner lands, but witnesses and members said statutory authority and stable funding would sustain and expand that capacity. "The strike teams are a vital tool in our toolbox to work with states and partners," testified Dave Meiko, Acting Deputy Director for Operations at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Why it matters: Witnesses described invasive species as costly and fast‑moving. Christy Martin, program manager at the University of Hawaii coordinating group on alien pest species, recounted strike‑team successes in the Pacific, including the eradication of yellow crazy ants from Johnston Atoll and sustained habitat recovery at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Ranking Member Hoyle framed the issue as bipartisan: she said invasive‑species damages cost the United States an estimated $138,000,000,000 annually and urged faster grant processing to enable prevention work during peak recreational seasons.
What was said: Martin told the committee the strike teams do not replace local pest programs but identify highest‑priority threats and address them before they become permanent. She said the bill would provide financial assistance, technical assistance, contracts and cooperative agreements, and allow other federal departments to request strike‑team resources for emergent responses. Meiko said the Service supports HR 4219’s goals and welcomed working with the subcommittee to clarify implementation details.
Members pressed the Service on grant delays and internal review processes. Ranking Member Hoyle and other members said some grants — including those for quagga and zebra mussel action plan projects — have been "stuck in review," and urged the Service to follow up in writing on specific stalled awards. Meiko acknowledged a thorough review of grant slates and committed to follow up on particular grants.
Next steps: The subcommittee held the hearing record open for 10 business days for written questions and pledged follow‑up responses. No formal committee vote on HR 4219 occurred during the hearing.
